Lee throws in simulated game, feels good

By Todd Zolecki and Austin Laymance / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies ace Cliff Lee made 40 pitches over two innings in a simulated game at Citizens Bank Park on Friday afternoon, the left-hander's first action against hitters since going on the 15-day disabled list nearly six weeks ago.

"I'm happy with how I felt and I'm headed in the right direction," said Lee, who has been sidelined with a strained left elbow since May 18.

Lee used all of his pitches and faced teammates Ronny Cedeno, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Cesar Hernandez. He made 20 pitches, took a break and then made another 20 pitches to simulate two innings.

"Everything was down in the zone," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "His first inning was better than his second, but all was quality and everything was down. He seemed pretty pleased about it."

Sandberg said the consensus among Phillies management is that Lee needs at least one Minor League rehab start, but the next step "possibly could be another session like that within three days, something like that."

"It is what it is," Lee said of a possible rehab start. "It's a necessary step along the way. I wish I could pitch today, but obviously that's not going to happen. I've got to stick with the plan and continue to progress and add more volume, and hopefully I continue to rebound and head in the right direction."

Lee did not offer a timetable for his return, though he should be ready to be activated some time around the All-Star break, if all goes well.

"I'm just going take it one step at a time," he said. "If I continue to feel good, we'll continue to add volume, and at some point I'll be back."

Phillies call up Garcia for doubleheader

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies announced Friday night they had recalled Triple-A Lehigh Valley right-hander Luis Garcia for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Phillies are allowed to carry a 26th man for the doubleheader, so they had no corresponding move to place him on the roster.

They previously announced right-hander Sean O'Sullivan will pitch Game 2. They still need to make a move to accommodate him on the 40-man roster, and with Garcia up, they will need to make another move to make O'Sullivan the 26th man.

In four innings over three appearances with the Phillies this season, Garcia has allowed seven hits, nine runs (seven earned runs), five walks, two home runs and has struck out two. He has a 0.38 ERA in 21 appearances with Lehigh Valley.

Clutch Utley hoping to walk off with ASG spot

PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley found himself in rare company following Thursday's 5-3 victory over the Marlins in 14 innings.

Elias Sports Bureau said Utley's 14th-inning walk-off homer matched the latest point in a game that a Phillies player has hit a walk-off homer over the past 53 season. Other Phillies players with 14th inning walk-off homers since 1962 are John Kruk (April 20, 1993, vs. Padres) and Ryan Howard (July 25, 2007, vs. Nationals).

Utley is leading All-Star voting among National League second basemen and has a chance to be named an All-Star for the sixth time. It was the third walk-off homer of Utley's career and sixth walk-off hit of his career.

Ruiz placed on disabled list with concussion

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz got hit in the head with a pitch during an at-bat in the 11th inning Thursday, but finished the 14-inning victory over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.

But then the Phillies announced an hour before Friday's 4-2 loss to the Braves that Ruiz had been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. They selected the contract of Triple-A Lehigh Valley catcher Koyie Hill to take Ruiz's spot on the 25-man roster. They designated Double-A outfielder Zach Collier for assignment to make room for Hill on the 40-man roster.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg indicated about three hours before the game that Ruiz, who spent time on the DL in 2010 with a concussion, would be fine, but that obviously changed.

"He was under a little bit of watch," he said after the game. "He just had a headache and he checked with [head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan]. It was clear that he had something going on."

Backup catcher Wil Nieves already is on the DL with a strained right quadriceps, leaving the Phillies with Cameron Rupp and Hill to catch while Ruiz and Nieves recover.

Hill, 35, was hitting .240 with nine doubles, one triple, three home runs and 17 RBIs in 45 games for Lehigh Valley.

Collier, 23, appeared in 40 games for Reading this season, hitting .228 with five doubles, two triples and one home run.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. Austin Laymance is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jalaymance. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.